Mechanics Block Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Mechanics Block Historic District
Why it's listed
Eight attached brick rowhouses at 38-52 Union Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts, form the eastern end of the Mechanics Block and were added to the existing historic district. The Essex Company, founder of the city, built the single-family houses in 1847 for mechanics employed in its machine shop. They are typically 2½ stories, three bays wide, with granite lintels and sills, paired doorways with sidelights and transoms, and rear ells for kitchens. Deed restrictions reserved the houses for skilled craftsmen of the Lawrence Machine Company, and later owners such as the Everett Mills and Washington Mills kept that tradition. Over time the occupants shifted from English, Scottish and native-born workers to Irish and eventually Italian-American families. Some alterations have occurred, including new roofing, removed chimneys and a storefront. The block is valued as an example of New England factory housing, and the addition preserves the design integrity of the district.
Significance in brief: The Mechanics Block is an architectural remnant of the first period of American industrial development and an example of New England factory housing. It illustrates the organized, paternalistic industrial community built by the Essex Company. The Union Street addition preserves the design integrity of the block.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000451, listed May 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 38-52 Union St., Lawrence |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | May 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000451 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Harrison Clement & William Page, Builders |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered, with additions such as bracketed hoods, new fenestration, a storefront at 44 Union Street and a one-story addition at 48 Union Street; the form lists the property as occupied, in commercial and private residence use. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.70951, -71.15366 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000451.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6804583
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.